No pay, No work Murowa Diamonds staff stand firm
ZVISHAVANE – Over 820 employees including full-time contractors at RZM Murowa Pvt (Ltd) commonly known as Murowa Diamonds have gone on strike, bringing all work a standstill after not receiving their salaries for two months.
The workforce comprising 56% local community members and 20% women.
In an interview with AfroGazette News, an anonymous Murowa Diamonds worker revealed that the situation has become increasingly tense, prompting workers to strike over two months’ unpaid salaries.
“Workers went on strike Monday, protesting unfair labor practices, inadequate equipment maintenance, lack of company transportation, poor communication, and two months of delayed salary payments”.
“Poor remuneration has left us unable to meet fundamental family needs, such as paying rent and school fees,” said the source.
On Tuesday, management threatened striking workers with job loss.
“We have agreed to return to work on October 10, 2024 based on management’s promise to settle our pending salaries. However, we await clarification on the payment details. If the payment is not made as promised, we will resume our strike and production will remain below capacity until the issue is resolved,” he said.
Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZIDAWU) secretary general Justice Chinhema expressed concern over Murowa Diamonds’ failure to pay workers salaries for two months despite the mine operating at full capacity.
“Workers have not shown up for work since Monday, unable to make ends meet after two months without pay. This indicates Murowa Diamonds values profits over worker welfare,” said Chinhema.
Chinhema expressed support for the workers’ strike, highlighting that they work 8 hours daily without receiving wages to support their families.
” We say no pay, no work. As ZIDAWU, we cannot sit and watch employers withhold employees’ salaries while the mine operates at full capacity daily,” he said.
He adds, “I blame RioZim’s poor management which failed to pay workers across all sectors including Renco Mine, Cam and Motor Mine in Kadoma which resulting in severe production challenges for the company”.
Murowa Diamonds which is part – owned Rio Zim produced 419,042carats in 2022.
